MOSCOW, April 23, Svetlana Bonopartova. Acting President of the Federation figure skating in Russia (FFKKR) Anton Sikharulidze told reporters that Russia is open to competition with other countries and is ready to organize international tournaments.
FFKKR on Monday announced the appointment of Sikharulidze as acting president of the organization. In December 2022, the Director General of the FFKKR Alexander Kogan became the acting president. Previously, the head of the organization was Alexander Gorshkov, who died in mid-November.
“Now and in the future, we are absolutely open to competing with international friends. We are ready to organize such a competition, but the only thing is that they need their desire and a clear attitude to competitions with the participation of Russian athletes. And the fact that we can organize international competitions, that's for sure. Everything depends only on the position of Western and Asian friends. We are open to dialogue and will do our best to make this happen,» Sikharulidze said.
The Council of the International Skating Union (ISU) on March 1, 2022, against the background of the events in Ukraine, suspended Russian and Belarusian figure skaters, speed skaters and short track skaters from participating in international tournaments. In June, the ISU Congress approved this decision, it is valid until further notice.
Also, Sikharulidze said that the FFKKR will help athletes with the organization of flight training camps.
«»Athletes and coaches will soon start summer camps. Because everything new is taught in the summer. During the season it is difficult to start doing it, because almost every two weeks there is a new tournament. We will actively cooperate with coaches and athletes so that they It is important for us that there is constant progress, so that by the time we start competing again with international colleagues, the level of our figure skating will be higher,» he added.